Communication apparatus and method of controlling same

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a communication apparatus in which it is possible to change the size of data transmitted at one time, the data size being changed to one size in case of transmission of e-mail via a mail server and to different size in case of transmission that is not performed via a mail server. E-mail data having image data as an attached file is generated and it is determined whether a predetermined server will intervene when e-mail is transmitted to a transmission destination. When it has been decided that the destination will be a mail server, it is determined whether the e-mail data has exceeded a prescribed size. E-mail data for which it has been determined that the prescribed size is exceeded is divided into a plurality of segments and then the e-mail data is transmitted to destination decided.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a communication apparatus and to a method ofcontrolling this apparatus. More particularly, the invention relates toa communication apparatus having an e-mail transmission function, and toa method of controlling this apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The popularization of computers and the networking of information havebeen accompanied by the wide use of e-mail for sending and receivingtext information over networks. In addition to the body of mail, whichis text information, files having various formats can be attached toe-mail, and there has been proposed an Internet fax (referred to also as“IFAX” below) in which images can be sent and received by attaching animage file having a format (TIFF: Tagged Image File Format) defined asan attached file.

According to RFC2532 (Expanded Facsimile Using Internet Mail) issued bythe Internet technology development group IETF (Internet EngineeringTask Force), which is engaged in standardizing Internet technology,there has been proposed a so-called “full mode” for Internet fax,wherein when mail to which a TIFF file transmitted by a transmitter hasbeen attached is received normally by a receiver, the fact thatreception proceeded normally is reported from the receiver to thetransmitter in the form of e-mail.

When an e-mail server handles e-mail having a large data size,processing speed declines sharply and the distribution of other e-mailis impeded. In a worst-case scenario, the mail server goes down and thee-mail system can cease functioning.

For this reason, a technique whereby e-mail data is divided into aplurality of segments at the time of transmission has been proposed, asdescribed in the specification of Japanese Patent Application Laid-OpenNo. 2002-324035.

Further, the specification of WO03-067440 (corresponding to JapanesePatent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-233558) proposes providing aswitch whereby e-mail is switched between transmission via a SMTP serveror transmission directly to the destination, with the changeover beingperformed for every transmission destination that has been set in anaddress book.

Because there is an increase in processing load (a decline in processingspeed) when an e-mail file having a file attachment of large data sizeis sent and received, as mentioned above, there are cases where the mailserver imposes a limitation upon the data size of e-mail. A problemwhich arises in such cases is that image data of large data size cannotbe transmitted. In addition, often the limitation on data size differsfrom one mail server to another.

Further, in a case where the transmission destination is in an Internetenvironment in which a firewall or the like exists along thetransmission path, transmission via a mail server is required. However,in the case of a local environment in which the transmission destinationexists on the same network, transmission via a mail server isunnecessary. In such case, therefore, it is not necessary to abide by adata size that is capable of being accepted by the mail server.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to make it possibleto change the size of data transmitted at one time in a communicationapparatus that transmits e-mail, the data size being changed to one sizein case of transmission of e-mail via a mail server and to another sizein case of transmission that is not performed via a mail server.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method ofcontrolling a communication apparatus that is capable of changing thesize of data transmitted at one time, the data size being changed to onesize in case of transmission of e-mail via a mail server and to anothersize in case of transmission that is not performed via a mail server.

According to the present invention, the foregoing objects are attainedby providing a communication apparatus having transmission unit, whichtransmits e-mail data, comprising: e-mail data generating unit, whichgenerates e-mail data; setting unit, which sets whether or not a mailserver will intervene when the e-mail data generated by the e-mail datagenerating unit is transmitted; dividing unit, which divides the e-maildata generated by the e-mail data generating unit if the e-mail dataexceeds a predetermined size; and controller, which exercises control insuch a manner that if the e-mail data generated by the e-mail datagenerating unit exceeds the predetermined size in a case whereintervention by the mail server has been set by the setting unit, thenthe e-mail data is transmitted by the transmission unit upon beingdivided by the dividing unit, and such that the e-mail data istransmitted by the transmission unit without being divided by thedividing unit even if the e-mail data generated by the e-mail datagenerating unit exceeds the predetermined size in a case whereintervention by the mail server has not been set by the setting unit.

According to the above arrangement, if the size of e-mail data exceeds aprescribed size, the data is transmitted upon being divided into aplurality of segments in a case where transmission is via a mail server.If transmission is not performed via a mail server, then the e-mail datais transmitted directly irrespective of its size.

Accordingly, the size of data transmitted at one time can be changedbetween one size in a case where e-mail is transmitted via a mail serverand a different size in a case where e-mail is not transmitted via amail server. In a case where a mail server is made to intervene,therefore, the inconvenience of no longer being able to transmit mailowing to a limitation imposed by the mail server is eliminated. In acase where there is no intervention by a mail server, on the other hand,mail can be transmitted all in one batch.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the foregoingobjects are attained by providing a communication apparatus havingtransmission unit, which transmits e-mail data, comprising: e-mail datagenerating unit, which generates e-mail data; setting unit, which setswhether or not a mail server will intervene when the e-mail datagenerated by the e-mail data generating unit is transmitted; firstregistration unit, which registers a data-size limit value in a casewhere intervention by the mail server has been set by the setting unit;second registration unit, which registers a data-size limit value in acase where intervention by the mail server has not been set by thesetting unit; dividing unit, which divides the e-mail data generated bythe e-mail data generating unit if the data size of this e-mail dataexceeds the limit value registered by the first registration unit or thelimit value registered by the second registration unit; and controller,which exercises control in such a manner that when the e-mail datagenerated by the e-mail data generating unit exceeds the limit value,which has been registered by the first registration unit, in a casewhere intervention by the mail server has been set by the setting unit,the e-mail data is transmitted by the transmission unit upon beingdivided by the dividing unit, and such that when the e-mail datagenerated by the e-mail data generating unit exceeds the limit value,which has been registered by the second registration unit, in a casewhere intervention by the mail server has not been set by the settingunit, the e-mail data is transmitted by the transmission unit upon beingdivided by the dividing unit.

If this arrangement is adopted, e-mail data is transmitted upon beingdivided in accordance with different limit values, namely one limitvalue in a case where a mail server is made to intervene and a differentlimit value in a case where there is no intervention by a mail server.

Accordingly, the size of data transmitted at one time can be changedbetween one size in a case where e-mail is transmitted via a mail serverand another size in a case where e-mail is not transmitted via a mailserver. In a case where a mail server is made to intervene, therefore,the inconvenience of no longer being able to transmit mail owing to alimitation imposed by the mail server is eliminated. In a case wherethere is no intervention by a mail server, on the other hand, it becomespossible to transmit e-mail data of a data size greater than that in acase where a mail server is made to intervene.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the foregoingobjects are attained by providing a communication apparatus havingtransmission unit, which transmits e-mail data, comprising: e-mail datagenerating unit, which generates e-mail data; transmission-destinationinformation registration unit, which registers a data-size limit valueon a per-transmission-destination basis; and dividing unit which, if thedata size of e-mail data generated by the e-mail data generating unitexceeds a limit value that has been registered in thetransmission-destination information registration unit with respect to atransmission destination to which a transmission is to be made by thetransmission unit, is for dividing the e-mail data in accordance withthis limit value.

If this arrangement is adopted, e-mail data is transmitted upon beingdivided in accordance with a limit value registered for everytransmission destination.

Accordingly, since e-mail data is capable of being transmitted uponbeing divided in accordance with a limit value that differs for everytransmission destination, e-mail data of an optimum size that is inaccordance with the conditions of every transmission information can betransmitted.

The apparatus may further comprise transmission-destination informationregistration unit, which registers various information including whetheror not a mail server will intervene, on a per-transmission-destinationbasis, and the setting unit may perform the setting in accordance withcontent that has been registered in the transmission-destinationinformation registration unit.

The transmission-destination information registration unit may registerthe predetermined size on a per-transmission-destination basis, and thedividing unit may divide the e-mail data by determining, after atransmission destination has been decided, whether the size registeredfor this transmission destination in the transmission-destinationinformation registration unit has been exceeded the predetermined size.

The transmission-destination information registration unit may register,on a per-transmission-destination basis, whether the e-mail data will betransmitted in a first transmission mode, in which confirmation ofdelivery is performed, or in a second transmission mode, in whichconfirmation of delivery is not performed, and when it has beendetermined that the e-mail data exceeds the predetermined size, thecontroller may suspend transmission of the e-mail data if the mode fortransmitting the data to the transmission destination is the firsttransmission mode.

The e-mail data generating unit may generate e-mail data having imagedata as an attached file.

It should be noted that the objects of the invention are also attainedby a method of controlling a communication apparatus corresponding tothe above-described communication apparatus, a computer program wherebythe method of controlling the communication apparatus is implemented bya computer, and a computer-readable storage medium that stores thiscomputer program.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate thesame or similar parts throughout the figures thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of the specification, illustrate an embodiment of the inventionand, together with the description, serve to explain the principles ofthe invention.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a network connection environment thatincludes an embodiment of a communication apparatus according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the structure of an MFP(Multi-Function Peripheral);

FIG. 3 is a diagram useful in describing the structure of a programstored in the MFP;

FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram illustrating operation when a transmissionis made from the MFP in a simple mode;

FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram illustrating operation when a transmissionis made from the MFP in a full mode;

FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram illustrating operation when a transmissionis made from one MFP to another MFP in the simple mode;

FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram illustrating operation when a transmissionis made from one MFP to another MFP in the full mode;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a transmission set-upscreen on a control panel when an image is transmitted;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen when an addressbook is displayed;

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen for registeringdetailed items of an address book;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating operation when e-mail is transmittedto one destination;

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen for registeringdetailed items of an address book according to a second embodiment ofthe present invention; and

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating operation when e-mail is transmittedto one destination according to the second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described indetail in accordance with the accompanying drawings. Note that each ofthe elements in the following embodiments are not intended to limit thescope of the invention but are described only as an example.

First Embodiment Network Configuration

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a network connection environment thatincludes a first embodiment of a communication apparatus according tothe present invention.

MFPs (Multi-Function Peripherals) 100 and 101 are multi-function copiers(also referred to simply as copiers below) equipped with a scanner and aprinter so that they may implement a copy function, FAX transceivefunction and printer function for printing data that has been created ona computer.

The MFPs 100 and 101 are connected to a network identified by a domainname xyz.co.jp. The MFPs are connected to a plurality of computers andnetwork devices such as a mail server/POP server 103 and personalcomputer 104 via the network.

The network is further connected to the Internet 110, which has globalextent, and is also connected via the Internet 110 to a network, whichis identified by the domain name abc.co.jp, to which a mail server/POPserver 120, personal computer 121 and Internet fax 122 are connected.

A host name copy1.xyz.co.jp and a device e-mail addressifax@copy1.xyz.co.jp are assigned to the MFP 100, and a host namecopy2.xyz.co.jp and a device e-mail address ifax@copy2.xyz.co.jp areassigned to the MFP 101.

General-purpose e-mail software is installed in the personal computer104 and a mail address syain1@xyz.co.jp is assigned to this personalcomputer.

The mail server/POP server 103 is a server equipped with both offunctions of the mail server and the POP server, and the mail server/POPserver 120 also has similar functions.

In a case where e-mail is transmitted from the address syain1@xyz.co.jpof personal computer 104 to the destination at address pcmai1@abc.co.jpof personal computer 121, the e-mail data that has been created by thepersonal computer 104 is sent to the mail server 103 according to theSMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) and then is sent from the mailserver 102 to the mail server 120 via the Internet 110 in accordancewith the SMTP protocol.

General-purpose e-mail software has been installed in the personalcomputer 121 as well. Using the POP3 (Post Office Protocol—Version 3)protocol, the personal computer 121 checks with the mail server 120 atregular intervals to determine whether mail has been delivered. If mailhas been delivered, then the personal computer 121 receives the maildata.

In a case where e-mail is sent from the address pcmai1@abc.co.jp ofpersonal computer 121 to the address syain1.@xyz.co.jp of personalcomputer 104, data that has been created by the personal computer 121 issent from the mail server 120 to the mail server 103 via the Internetover a route that is the reverse of that described above.

The personal computer 104 operates so as to acquire mail data that hasbeen delivered to the mail server 103 using the POP3 protocol.

The MFPs 100 and 101 have an e-mail transmit mode and an IFAX transmitmode as their transmission modes. In the e-mail transmit mode, an imagethat has been received by a FAX or IFAX reception function and amonochrome/color image that has been read by a scanner are transmittedon the assumption that they will be sent to an ordinary e-mail address.In the IFAX transmit mode, it is assumed that transmission will be to adevice that is compliant with the IFAX standard.

The SMTP protocol and POP3 protocol are used as transmit and receiveprotocols, respectively, and implement operation similar to send/receivedescribed above.

In the e-mail transmit mode, images in the JPEG format are transmitted.For example, when the MFP 100 or 101 transmits a color image in the JPEGformat to the address syain1.@xyz.co.jp of personal computer 104, whichis a client personal computer, in the form of e-mail, then the personalcomputer 104 receives this e-mail and is capable of displaying theattached JPEG image by a general-purpose image viewer that has beeninstalled.

In the IFAX transmit mode, on the other hand, an image in the TIFFformat compliant with RFC2301 is transmitted. For example, an image inthe TIFF format is sent and received by the MFP 100, MFP 101 andInternet fax 122 in accordance with the IFAX standard.

(Functional Structure of MFP)

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the structure of the MFP 100.

A CPU 130 is a controller for executing control of the overall system,utilizing the memory area of a RAM 132, in accordance with a programthat has been stored in a ROM 131. The components constituting the MFP100 and the CPU are connected by a bus.

A control panel 133 has an LCD panel and hardware keys such as a startkey and numeric keypad. Soft keys are displayed on the LCD. The controlpanel 133 senses that a finger of the user has touched a soft key andexecutes the operation intended by the user.

A scanner 134 converts the image data of a document, which has beenplaced at a prescribed position, to electrical data by means of anoptoelectronic conversion.

The operation of the scanner 134 will now be described in detail. When adocument is transported to and placed on a document glass by a documentfeeder, a lamp is lit and movement of a scanner unit is started toexpose and scan the document. Reflected light from the document isguided to a CCD image sensor by mirrors and lenses and is converted toan electrical signal by the image sensor. The electrical signal isconverted to digital data by an A/D converting circuit. At the end ofthe document reading operation, the document on the document glass isejected.

A printer unit 135 prints the electrical image data on printing paper.

As for the details of operation of printer unit 135, a laser beamconforming to the electrical image data is emitted from a light-emittingunit and illuminates a photosensitive drum, whereby a latent imageconforming to the laser light is formed on the photosensitive drum.

A developer is affixed by a developing unit to the portions of thelatent image that has been formed on the photosensitive drum, printingpaper is fed from a paper-feed cassette and transported to a transferunit at a timing synchronized to the start of illumination by the laserbeam, and the developer affixed to the photosensitive drum istransferred to the printing paper.

The printing paper carrying the developer is transported to a fixingunit, whereby the developer is fixed to the printing paper by heat andpressure applied by the fixed unit. The printing paper that hastraversed the fixing unit is ejected by ejection rollers and then issorted by a sorter by being sent to and received in respective ones ofpaper bins.

An image processing circuit 136, which comprises a large-capacity imagememory, an image rotating circuit, a resolution scaling circuit and anMH, MR, MMR, JBIG or JPEG coder/decoder circuit, executes various imageprocessing such as shading, trimming and masking.

A hard disk 137 is a large-capacity recording medium connected via aninterface such as an SCSI or USB. The recording medium may be amagneto-optic disk or the like and not just a hard disk.

A network interface 138 implements a network link for connecting to anetwork line such as Ethernet or token ring typified by 10BASE-T or100BASE-T.

A formatter 139, which is equipped with a personal computer interfacecircuit such as a parallel interface compliant with IEEE 1284 or a USB,executes rendering processing for creating image data based upon datadescribed in PDL (Page Description Language) transmitted from a personalcomputer and received by the personal computer interface circuit ornetwork interface circuit. The image created is subjected to imageprocessing by the image processing circuit 136 and is then printed bythe printer 135.

A facsimile unit 140 is connected to a telephone line and acts as afacsimile interface constituted by a circuit such as an NCU (NetworkControl unit) or MODEM (Modulator/DEModulator).

The operation of the facsimile unit 140 will now be described in detail.Image data that has been read by the scanner 134 is subjected to imageprocessing by the image processing circuit 136 and then transmitted toanother facsimile machine via the telephone line. Alternatively, datathat has been transmitted from another facsimile machine is subjected toimage processing by the image processing circuit 136 and then printed bythe printer 135.

The scanner 134, printer 135, image processing circuit 136, formatter139 and facsimile unit 140 are connected to one another by a high-speedvideo bus separately of the CPU bus for sending and receiving data toand from the CPU 130. Thus the arrangement is such that image data canbe transferred at high speed.

The copy function is implemented by performing image processing on theimage scanned via the scanner 134 by the image processing circuit 136,and executing printing by the printer 135.

The e-mail transmit function for attaching image data read by thescanner 134 to e-mail and then transmitting the e-mail over the networkfrom the network interface, or the IFAX function for creating an imagethat is in accordance with RFC2301 by the image processing circuit 136and sending/receiving data according to the e-mail protocol, isimplemented by the MFP 100.

(MFP Program Structure)

FIG. 3 is a diagram useful in describing the structure of the programstored in the MFP 100.

The structure of the program is classified broadly into three layers,namely IP (Internet Protocol) 200, TCP (Transmission ControlProtocol)/UDP (User Datagram Protocol) 201 and an application-layerprogram 202.

IP 200 is a protocol layer for providing a service that deliversmessages from an originating host to a destination host whilecooperating with a repeater node such as a router. IP200 implements arouting function for managing the address of an originating source thattransmits a message and the address of a destination that receives amessage, and manages by which route a message is delivered to thedestination host in a network in accordance with address information.

TCP/UDP 201 is a transport layer for providing a service that delivers amessage from an originating application process to a receivingapplication process. TCP is a connection-type service that assurescommunication of high reliability, while UDP is a connectionless-typeservice that does not assure reliability.

The application-layer protocol 202 specifies a plurality of protocols.These protocols include FTP (File Transfer Protocol), which is a filetransfer service, SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol), which is anetwork management protocol, LPD (Line Printer Daemon), which is aprotocol for printing by a printer, HTTP (HyperText Transport Protocol),which is the protocol of the WWW (World Wide Web), SMTP (Simple MailTransfer Protocol), which is a protocol for sending and receivinge-mail, and POP3 (Post Office Protocol—Version 3), which is a protocolfor downloading e-mail. A Kerberos authentication program specified byRFC 1510 also is installed.

There are two types of IFAX transmission, namely simple modetransmission and full mode transmission, as mentioned above. As will bedescribed later, it is possible to set whether transmission is in thesimple mode or full mode for every destination in an address book.

(Operation at Time of Transmission: MFP→Internet Fax 122)

FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram illustrating operation when a transmissionis made from MFP 100 to Internet fax 122 in the simple mode.

In this case it is necessary to transmit to the destination (the finaldestination) via the Internet 110. In a case where a firewall or thelike (not shown) is present between the MFP 100 and Internet fax 122, adirect transmission to the destination is not possible. E-mail that hasbeen created by the MFP 100, therefore, is sent via the mail server 103and mail server 120.

Initially, e-mail to which image data created by the MFP 100 has beenattached is sent from the MFP 100 to the mail server 103 (250).

If communication between the MFP 100 and mail server 103 ends normally,then “- -” is registered in the transmission log and in the result of atransmission-result report as information that indicates whether or notthe mail has been delivered normally to the destination. Thus,transmission is terminated upon gaining the attention of thetransmitting party.

If the e-mail transmission 250 fails, on the other hand, informationindicating that an error has occurred is registered in the transmissionlog and in the result of the transmission-result report and transmissionis terminated.

Next, mail the e-mail is sent from the mail server 103 to the mailserver 120 via the Internet 110 (251), and the mail data is transferredfrom the mail server 120 to the Internet fax 122 by e-mail communicationwithin the same network (252).

FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram illustrating operation when a transmissionis made from the MFP 100 to the Internet fax 122 in the full mode.

Data requesting confirmation of delivery (MDN: Message DispositionNotification) is assigned to e-mail to which image data created by theMFP 100 has been attached. This is sent from the MFP 100 to the mailserver 103 by e-mail (260) and from the mail server 103 to the mailserver 120 by mail via the Internet 110 (261), and the mail data istransferred from the mail server 120 to the Internet fax 122 by e-mail(262).

Upon receiving the mail requesting confirmation of delivery, theInternet fax 122 creates MDN e-mail data indicating successfulcommunication if the image could be formed from the received image datanormally. If processing could not be executed normally, then theInternet fax 122 creates MDN e-mail data indicating that an error hasoccurred.

The MDN e-mail data created by the Internet fax 122 is communicated fromthe Internet fax 122 to the mail server 120 by mail (263), transmittedfrom the mail server 120 to the mail server 103 via the Internet 110(264) and transmitted from the mail server 103 to the MFP 100 by mail(265), whereby the MFP 100 of the transmitting party is notified of theresult of confirmation of delivery.

Upon receiving confirmation of delivery, the MFP 100 registers “normal”as the result in the transmission log and prints out thetransmission-result report.

On the other hand, if after the mail server 103 receives mail from theMFP 100 at 260 the mail transmission 261 to the mail server 120 cannotbe executed normally owing to a failure of some kind, then the mailserver 103 transmits DSN (Delivery Status Notification) error mail tothe MFP 100 (266).

Upon receiving the DSN error mail from the mail server 103, the MFP 100terminates the transmission operation, registers “error” as the resultin the transmission log and prints out a transmission-result reportindicating error as the result of transmission.

(Operation at Time of Transmission: MFP 100→MFP 101)

FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram illustrating operation when a transmissionis made from MFP 100 to MFP 101 in the IFAX simple mode.

In this case, since both MFPs are in the same network and no firewall ispresent between them, e-mail created by the MFP 100 is transmitteddirectly to the MFP 101 without the intermediary of the mail server 103(270).

In case of failure of e-mail transmission at 270, “NG” indicatingtransmission error is registered in the transmission log, thetransmission-result report is printed out and the transmission operationis terminated.

FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram illustrating operation when a transmissionis made from MFP 100 to MFP 101 in the IFAX full mode.

Data requesting confirmation of delivery (MDN: Message DispositionNotification) is assigned to e-mail to which image data created by theMFP 100 has been attached. The e-mail is transmitted from the MFP 100 tothe MFP 101 directly without the intervention of the mail server 103(280).

Upon receiving the mail requesting confirmation of delivery, the MFP 101creates MDN e-mail data indicating successful communication if the imagecould be formed from the received image data normally. If processingcould not be executed normally, then the MFP 101 creates MDN e-mail dataindicating that an error has occurred.

The MDN e-mail data created is communicated from the MFP 101 to the mailserver 103 by mail (281) and the mail server 103 communicates with theMFP 100 by mail to thereby notify the MFP 100 of the transmitting partyof the result of delivery conformation (282).

Upon receiving confirmation of delivery, the MFP 100 registersnormal/error as the result in the transmission log and prints out thetransmission-result report when the MDN is received.

(Display Screen on Control Panel)

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a transmission set-upscreen on the control panel 133 when an image is transmitted.

A reading size 300 is an area for designating the paper size of theimage read by the scanner 134. The designation can be made from amongA5, A4, A3, B5, B4 and automatic. Automatic has been set as the default.

Resolution 301 is an area for specifying the resolution of the imageread by the scanner 134. Any resolution from among 200×100, 200×200,200×400, 300, 400×400 and 600×600 dpi can be selected. Here 200×200 dpihas been set as the default.

If a details setting button 302 is pressed, a window (not shown) isdisplayed. The window makes it possible to make various settings, suchas density setting at the time of scanning, a designation of documenttype, double-sided read-in, a designation of imaging of pagescontinuously and adjustment of image quality and allows each of thesevalues to be set.

Destination 303 is a button for inputting the destination of an e-mailtransmission. If this button is pressed, an address book shown in FIG. 9is displayed. Though this will be described in detail with reference toFIG. 9, here ifax@abc.co.jp of Internet fax 122 has been selected as thetransmission destination.

Subject 304 is an area that allows entry of the subject of the e-mail.In the illustrated example, “TEST” has been entered as the subject. Body305 of the mail is an area in which the body of the e-mail can beentered. In this example, “HELLO” has been entered.

Reply destination 306 is an area for entering an address. Specifically,assume that the user on the receiving side performs a reply operationwhen mail has been sent from the Internet fax. If the e-mail address ofthe destination to which the reply is to be sent is set to the e-mailaddress (e.g., client@xyz.co.jp) that this client normally employsrather than the address of the Internet fax, then this address isentered in area 306. This reply-destination e-mail address can also beentered using the address book.

In a case where the reply-destination e-mail address has been set, itcan be so specified that confirmation of delivery is sent to both thee-mail address of this machine (ifax@abc.co.jp) and to thereply-destination e-mail address (client@xyz.co.jp). Accordingly, if thereply-destination e-mail address is set to the mail address that isusually utilized, confirmation of delivery can also be sent toclient@xyz.co.jp so that confirmation of delivery can be performed withease.

(Address Book Display Screen)

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen when the addressbook is displayed. The address book is a database that is capable ofstoring the mail addresses of a large number of communication devicessuch as the Internet fax.

The address book is displayed in a table format composed of an addressbook ID 350, a selection mark 351 and a transmit e-mail mail address352. The address book can be scrolled up and down using keys 353 and354, respectively.

At the time of transmission, a plurality of addresses can be selectedfrom the address book and a circle mark will be displayed as theselection mark 351 opposite the selected address. In the illustratedexample, ifax@abc.co.jp of ID No. 6 in the address book has beenselected as a destination.

A details key 355 is a key that causes the display of detailedinformation that has been registered in regard to the selected address.The detailed information will be described with reference to FIG. 10.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen for registeringdetailed items of an address book displayed by pressing the details key355.

A destination 400 is an area for inputting an e-mail address. If thisarea is touched, an alphabetic keyboard is displayed and a characterstring, numerals and symbols, etc., can be entered.

A switch 401 is for setting either the simple mode or full mode as thetransmission mode. This mode makes it possible to select transmission inthe simple mode, in which confirmation of delivery is not performed, andtransmission in the full mode, in which confirmation of delivery isrequested. Whenever this switch is pressed, the mode toggles between thesimple mode and the full mode.

A switch 402 is for setting whether data is to be transmitted via ane-mail server such as the mail server 103 or directly without theintervention of an e-mail server. Whenever the switch 402 is pressed,the setting toggles in a manner similar to that of the switch 401.

A switch 403 is for setting the paper size that can be used by thereceiver. If the receiver is capable of receiving an image of size B4,then B4 in an area 404 is turned ON; if the receiver is capable ofreceiving an image of size A3, then A3 in an area 405 is turned ON.Since size A4 can be received by any machine providing it has anInternet fax function, this size is always in the ON state.

A switch 406 is for setting an image compression scheme. Here MR in anarea 407 is turned ON in a case where an image that has been compressedby the MR-format compression scheme can be received by the receiver, andMMR in an area 408 is turned ON in a case where an image that has beencompressed by the MMR-format compression scheme can be received by thereceiver. Since an image that has been compressed by the MH compressionscheme can be received by any receiver, this compression scheme isalways in the ON state.

A switch 409 is for setting the capability (resolution) of an image thatcan be received by the receiver. Here 200×400 in an area 410 is turnedON if an image having a resolution of 200×400 dpi can be received by thereceiver, 300×300 in an area 411 is turned ON if an image having aresolution of 300×300 dpi can be received by the receiver, 400×400 in anarea 412 is turned ON if an image having a resolution of 400×400 dpi canbe received by the receiver, and 600×600 in an area 413 is turned ON ifan image having a resolution of 600×600 dpi can be received by thereceiver. Since images having resolutions 200×100 dpi and 200×200 dpican be received by any receiver providing it has an Internet faxfunction, these resolutions are always in the ON state.

It should be noted that the switches 403, 405, 407, 408, 410, 411, 412and 413 become highlighted in black when they attain the ON state andtoggle between ON and OFF whenever they are pressed. Further, if an OKkey at 411 is pressed, the content that has been set is registered inthe address book.

(Flow of Mail Transmission)

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating operation when e-mail is transmittedto one destination.

It should be noted that if a broadcast transmission, in which atransmission is made to a plurality of destinations simultaneously, hasbeen specified, then the processing sequence illustrated below will beexecuted for every destination.

When a transmission operation starts, processing undergoes a transitionto transmission to a single destination (step S500).

When an e-mail server handles data of a large data size (data volume),processing speed declines and, in a worst-case scenario, there is thepossibility that the server function will cease, as described earlier.In order to prevent this from occurring, this embodiment is such that alimit value that limits the size of the transmit data in one-megabyteunits can be set at the control panel 133 in the user mode in such amanner that data of a size that exceeds a prescribed data size (datavolume) will not be transmitted. The data-size limit value that has beenset in the user mode is read in (step S501).

If zero has been set as the limit value, then this is interpreted asmeaning that there is no limit. Further, a similar effect is obtainedeven if it is so arranged that a value that has been registered with thee-mail server as this limit value is set by being acquired from thee-mail server during SMTP communication.

An image that has been read by the scanner or an image that has beenreceived by the FAX or IFAX receive function is converted to TIFF imagedata, this data is subjected to BASE 64 encoding processing and ane-mail header is appended to create e-mail data (step S502).

The state of the switch 402 corresponding to a transmission destinationset in the address book is investigated to determine whether a server isto intervene or not (step S503).

If the setting is such that a server will not intervene, then the limitvalue is made zero (no limit) (step S504) regardless of the limit valueread in at step S501, the mail data created at step S502 is transmitteddirectly to the transmission destination (step S505) and processing isexited (step S511).

If intervention by a server has been set at step S503, on the otherhand, then it is determined (step S506) whether the size of the datacreated at step S502 exceeds the limit value read in at step S501. Ifthe data size does not exceed the limit value, then the data created atstep S502 is transmitted to the mail server (step S509) and processingis exited (step S511).

If it is found at step S506 that the size of the data exceeds the limitvalue, then it is determined whether the switch 401 indicating thetransmission mode of every destination set in the address book has beenset to the simple mode (step S507). If the mode is the full mode and notthe simple mode, then, when a divided transmission is performed, aplurality of delivery confirmations will be required. A transmissionerror (step S510) is construed, therefore, and processing is exited(step S511).

If it is found at step S507 that the mode is the simple mode, then themail data is divided into a plurality of segments (step S508) in such amanner that the limit value read in at step S501 will not be exceeded,the data is transmitted to the mail server (step S509) and processing isexited (step S511).

It should be noted that the processing for dividing the mail data atstep S508 may be in accordance with the scheme described in RFC 2046(according to which an image file corresponding to a document is dividedbased upon data size irrespective of page breaks) or may be processingfor dividing and transmitting mail data in page units (according towhich an image file corresponding to a document is divided at the pagebreaks so that the e-mail data of one e-mail will not exceed a limitvalue).

Further, it is mentioned in this embodiment that the limit value in acase where a server does not intervene is fixed at zero (no limit).However, if the user inputs a limit value in the user mode from thecontrol panel 133 in a case where a server will not intervene and thisvalue is set, then a similar effect will be obtained even if mail datais divided and transmitted in accordance with this limit value or evenif a transmission error occurs.

In this case, processing similar to that of steps S506, 507, 508, 510,etc., is executed at step S504 in the flowchart of FIG. 11 in accordancewith the limit value for when there is no intervention by a mail server.

Further, it is preferred that the limit value set here be a value largerthan that in a case where a mail server intervenes.

In accordance with this embodiment, as described above, a communicationapparatus for sending and receiving images using an e-mail protocol isequipped with a switch for setting, in an address book that is formanaging transmission destinations, whether or not mail data is to betransmitted via a mail server. As a result, the load on a mail servercan be suppressed by setting an upper-limit value on the size oftransmission data to a destination for which the mail server intervenes.For a destination to which a transmission can be made without theintermediary of a mail server, the data can be sent to this destinationdirectly regardless of the data size.

Accordingly, when information is registered in an address book, merelysetting in advance whether a mail server is to intervene or not makes itpossible to set the size of data to be transmitted at one time to adifferent value. The load on the mail server can be mitigated withoutthe operator performing a complicated operation whenever image data istransmitted.

Second Embodiment

A second embodiment of a communication apparatus according to thepresent invention will now be described. Components similar to those ofthe first embodiment need not be described. This embodiment will bedescribed centering on its characterizing features. The secondembodiment is a communication apparatus similar to that of the firstembodiment but differs from the first embodiment in that the maximumsize of transmit data can be set for every destination.

(Address Book Display Screen)

FIG. 12 is a diagram which, in a manner similar to that of FIG. 10,illustrates an example of a screen for registering detailed items in anaddress book according to a second embodiment of the invention.Information concerning destinations of Internet fax and e-mail is storedis the address book.

If the screen of FIG. 12 is compared with that of FIG. 10 described inconnection with the first embodiment, it will be appreciated that thisscreen differs in that an area 415 for entering the maximum size oftransmit data has been added.

The maximum size of transmit data is set by numerals entered in the area415. The setting is made in single-megabyte units and it is possible tochange the maximum size of the transmit data on a per-destination basis.

By way of example, assume that the capacity limit of the mail server 103is 5 MB and that of the mail server 120 is 3 MB. If e-mail istransmitted from the MFP 100 (mail address ifax@copy1.xyz.co.jp) to thepersonal computer 104 (mail address syain1.@xyz.co.jp), the mail will betransmitted via the mail server 103 and therefore the capacity limitwill be set to 5 MB in conformity with the mail server 103.

If e-mail is to be transmitted to the Internet fax 122 (mail addressifax@abc.co.jp), then the mail will be transmitted via the mail server103 and mail server 120 and therefore the capacity limit will be set to3 MB in conformity with the mail server 120.

Accordingly, by setting 5 MB as the maximum transmitted data size 415 ina case where the address-book destination 400 is syain1.@xyz.co.jp(personal computer 104) and setting 3 MB as the maximum transmitted datasize 415 in a case where the address-book destination 400 isifax@abc.co.jp (Internet fax 122), it can be so arranged that mail datathat exceeds the capacity limit will not be transmitted with regard toeach destination.

(Flow of Mail Transmission)

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating operation when e-mail is transmittedto one destination according to the second embodiment.

It should be noted that if a broadcast transmission, in which atransmission is made to a plurality of destinations simultaneously, hasbeen specified, then the processing sequence illustrated below will beexecuted for every destination.

When a transmission operation starts, processing undergoes a transitionto transmission to a single destination (step S600).

Next, the value in the area 415 of maximum transmitted data size set inthe address book described above with reference to FIG. 12 is read (stepS601).

An image that has been read by the scanner or an image that has beenreceived by the FAX or IFAX receive function is converted to TIFF imagedata, this data is subjected to BASE 64 encoding processing and ane-mail header is appended to create e-mail data (step S602).

The mail data created is compared with the data size read in at stepS601 and it is determined whether the mail data created has exceeded themaximum transmission size (step S603). Control proceeds to S607 if themail data created has not exceeded the maximum transmission size.

If it is determined at step S603 that the mail data created has exceededthe maximum transmission size, on the other hand, then it is determinedwhether the switch 401 indicating the transmission mode of everydestination set in the address book has been set to the simple mode(step S604). If the mode is the full mode and not the simple mode, then,when a divided transmission is performed, a plurality of deliveryconfirmations will be required. A transmission error (step S605) isconstrued, therefore, and processing is exited (step S610).

If it is found at step S604 that the mode is the simple mode, then themail data is divided into a plurality of segments (step S606) in such amanner that the maximum transmission size read in at step S601 will notbe exceeded (step S606).

The state of the switch 402 corresponding to a transmission destinationset in the address book is investigated to determine whether a server isto intervene or not (step S607).

If the setting is such that a server will not intervene, then the maildata created at step S602 is transmitted directly to the transmissiondestination (step S609) and processing is exited (step S610).

If intervention by a server has been set at step S607, then the maildata is transmitted to the mail server (step S608) and processing isexited (step S610).

In accordance with this embodiment, as described above, the maximum datasize of a transmission can be set for every destination in an addressbook and it can be so arranged that image information having a size thatconforms to the mail server used is sent for every destination.

In this embodiment, it is so arranged that mail data is divided inaccordance with a limit value irrespective of whether a mail serverintervenes or not. However, as in the first embodiment, it may bearranged so that a limit value is eliminated if a mail server does notintervene or so that a limit value is made a prescribed value in a casewhere no mail server intervenes.

Other Embodiments

In the above embodiments, an example in which image data is made theattached file is described. However, this does not impose a limitationupon the invention and it is possible to employ e-mail data of variousforms.

Further, the foregoing embodiments are described only in regard to acommunication apparatus composed of a single device. However, functionsequivalent to those of the communication apparatus of this invention maybe implemented by a system comprising a plurality of devices.

Furthermore, the invention can be implemented by supplying a softwareprogram, which implements the functions of the foregoing embodiments,directly or indirectly to a system or apparatus, reading the suppliedprogram code with a computer of the system or apparatus, and thenexecuting the program code. In this case, so long as the system orapparatus has the functions of the program, the mode of implementationneed not rely upon a program.

Accordingly, since the functions of the present invention areimplemented by computer, the program code installed in the computer alsoimplements the present invention. In other words, the claims of thepresent invention also cover a computer program for the purpose ofimplementing the functions of the present invention.

In this case, so long as the system or apparatus has the functions ofthe program, the program may be executed in any form, such as an objectcode, a program executed by an interpreter, or scrip data supplied to anoperating system.

Example of storage media that can be used for supplying the program area floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, aCD-ROM, CD-R, a CD-RW, a magnetic tape, a non-volatile type memory card,a ROM, and a DVD (DVD-ROM and a DVD-R).

As for the method of supplying the program, a client computer can beconnected to a website on the Internet using a browser of the clientcomputer, and the computer program of the present invention or anautomatically-installable compressed file of the program can bedownloaded to a recording medium such as a hard disk. Further, theprogram of the present invention can be supplied by dividing the programcode constituting the program into a plurality of files and downloadingthe files from different websites. In other words, a WWW (World WideWeb) server that downloads, to multiple users, the program files thatimplement the functions of the present invention by computer is alsocovered by the claims of the present invention.

It is also possible to encrypt and store the program of the presentinvention on a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, distribute the storagemedium to users, allow users who meet certain requirements to downloaddecryption key information from a website via the Internet, and allowthese users to decrypt the encrypted program by using the keyinformation, whereby the program is installed in the user computer.

Besides the cases where the aforementioned functions according to theembodiments are implemented by executing the read program by computer,an operating system or the like running on the computer may perform allor a part of the actual processing so that the functions of theforegoing embodiments can be implemented by this processing.

Furthermore, after the program read from the storage medium is writtento a function expansion board inserted into the computer or to a memoryprovided in a function expansion unit connected to the computer, a CPUor the like mounted on the function expansion board or functionexpansion unit performs all or a part of the actual processing so thatthe functions of the foregoing embodiments can be implemented by thisprocessing.

If the present invention is realized as a storage medium, program codescorresponding to at least one of the above mentioned flowcharts (FIGS.4, 5, 6, 7, 11 and FIG. 13) is to be stored in the storage medium.

As many apparently widely different embodiments of the present inventioncan be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it isto be understood that the invention is not limited to the specificembodiments thereof except as defined in the claims.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No.2003-333447 filed on Sep. 25, 2003, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein.

1. A communication apparatus having transmission unit, which transmitse-mail data, comprising: e-mail data generating unit, which generatese-mail data; setting unit, which sets whether or not a mail server willintervene when the e-mail data generated by the e-mail data generatingunit is transmitted; dividing unit, which divides the e-mail datagenerated by said e-mail data generating unit if the e-mail data exceedsa predetermined size; and controller, which exercises control in such amanner that if the e-mail data generated by said e-mail data generatingunit exceeds the predetermined size in a case where intervention by themail server has been set by said setting unit, then the e-mail data istransmitted by said transmission unit upon being divided by saiddividing unit, and such that the e-mail data is transmitted by saidtransmission unit without being divided by said dividing unit even ifthe e-mail data generated by said e-mail data generating unit exceedsthe predetermined size in a case where intervention by the mail serverhas not been set by said setting unit. 2-22. (canceled)